Doll

ABSTRACT

A toy growing doll, animal or the like, including leg defining members of fixed length. A body is provided, which body has an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening for receipt of the upper ends of the legs so that the same may be moved into the cavity. An elongated element is secured to the leg members and extends through the body so as to be graspable to move the leg members into the cavity. A flexible covering which can define either apparel or a further body portion is secured to the legs and to the body such that the same will move with the leg members as they are moved partially into the cavity. A unique retaining force structure is employed for maintaining the legs in any particular position within the opening to the body.

nited States Patent [191 Kaelin Aug. 13, 1974 [73] Assignee:

Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: July 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 379,854

[52] US. Cl 46/115, 46/119, 46/145 {51] Int. Cl A63h 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..46/115,119,135,14 5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,564,813 8/1951 Moyers 46/119 2,901,862 /1959 Thomas 3,032,921 5/1962 Greene 46/135 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 810,368 8/1951 Germany 46/135 R Primary ExaminerAntonio F. Guida Assistant Exuminer.l. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee & Sweeney ABSTRACT A toy growing doll, animal or the like, including leg defining members of fixed length. A body is provided, which body has an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening for receipt of the upper ends of the legs so thatthe same may be moved into the cavity. An elongated element is secured to the leg members and extends through the body so as to be graspable to move the leg members into the cavity. A flexible covering which can define either apparel or a further body portion is secured to the legs and to the body 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures @4 I 26 Z 24 ea 3 78 Z 55 PATENTEU ms 1 31974 SHEET 2 [IF 2 DOLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to animal simulating toys, such as a doll, and more specifically, to a socalled growing" toy, the height of which can be selectively adjusted to simulate growth.

There have been a variety of proposals over the years for so-called growing dolls wherein the overall height of the doll may be selectively adjusted for the purpose of simulating growth. Such proposals almost universally embody limbs simulating structures, such as arms or legs, which may be telescoped, that is, each such limb includes two or more relatively movable, telscoping elements.

Many such devices have not met with a great deal of success, particularly because of their relative complexity required by the provision of numerous telescoping limbs. Moreover, such prior art structures have generally been relatively expensive to manufacture because of such complexities coupled with the further need for appropriately masking the interfaces of various telescoping members.

As a result, there is just a real need for an inexpensive, but yet, realistic growing doll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved growing doll. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a doll which may be simply and economically fabricated without the need of complex telescoping elements or the like.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing objects through the provision of a body definingmember which preferably is in the form of a head and which includes an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening. Also provided are a pair of legs of fixed length, the upper ends of which are receivable in the cavity by passage through the opening.

An elongated element is secured to the upper ends of the leg members andextends through the cavity in the body at a position remote from the opening for receiving the legs. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated'element is a flexible strap which may be grasped and pulled to draw the upper ends of the legs into the cavity to effectively shorten the length of the doll.

A flexible covering which may simulate either apparel or a further body portion is secured to the body adjacent the opening and to the legs such that a portion of the flexible covering will move with the legs as the same are moved into the cavity so that as the legs are drawn into the cavity, the relative length of the apparel or the further body portion is simultaneously shortened.

In the preferred embodiment, the flexible covering defines apparel and the doll is a human being provided with arms. The arms are flexible intermediate their length and are secured intermediate their length to the flexible covering intermediate its-length so that as the same is drawn into' the cavity with the legs, the arms, too, will be simultaneously shortened.

To retain the legs at a desired position of movement within the'opening, the legs are formed in a wedge shape of a material that is compressible transverse to the length of the legs such that the same will wedge v against the edges of the opening to provide retaining force. In addition, secured to the upper end of the legs if a foam body sized to fill the opening and bear against the sides thereof to provide a retaining force and a rigidifying force when the legs are fully extended from the body.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a doll made according to the invention at its maximum height;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a doll made according to the invention at its minimum height;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the doll;

FIG. 4 is a further vertical section of the doll taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a further vertical section of the doll at its minimum height.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An exemplary embodiment of a doll made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is seen to be comprised of four basic elements including a body defining portion, preferably in the form of a head, generally designated 10; a pair of legs, each generally designated 12; a flexible covering, generally designated 14 which may be in the form of apparel as illustrated in FIG. 1 or could be in the form of a further body portion; and a'means generally designated 16, whereby the overall height of the doll can be adjusted.

In the last mentioned connection, FIG. 1 illustrates thedoll at its maximum height with the legs 12 fully extended and the flexible covering l4 similarly extended. In contrast, FIG. 2 illustrates the doll at its minimum height with the legs 12'protruding only a minor amount from the body and with the flexible covering 14 partially retracted so as to have a top to bottom dimension of approximately one-half of the maximum height illus trated in FIG. I or less.

Referring now especially to FIGS.- 3-5 inclusive, the body 10 is formed as a plastic shell 20 having an interior cavity 22 and a downwardly facing opening 24. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic shell 20 is made of a suitable plastic having some resilience so as to be yieldable to the touch in much the same fashion as human skin. Typical plastics for the purpose are wellknown and form no part of the invention herein. The opening 24 is defined by an aperture 26 in the lower end of the shell 20 which receives a sleeve 28. Intermediate the ends of the sleeve is a peripheral groove 30 in which the boundary 32 of the opening 26 may be firmly and snugly received.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the exterior of the plastic shell is provided with suitable indicia, generally designated 34, designating the face of the doll.

Returning to FIGS. 3-5, the upper end of the plastic shell is provided with a small slot 36 through which a portion of the actuating means 16 may pass. According to the preferred embodiment, the actuating means 16 includes a flexible strap 38 which may be formed of cloth or the like, and which includes a tassel formation 40 on one end thereof. For decorative purposes, the shell 20 is provided with a cloth bonnet 42 which is secured to theshell 20 as by stitching 44.

Returning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that when the doll is in the configuration resulting in its maximum height, the tassel formation 40 abuts the bonnet 42 by reason of the strap 38 being drawn through an opening 46 in the upper surface of the bonnet 42 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). On the other hand, when the doll assumes its minimum height configuration as exemplified in FIG. 2, a sizable length of the strap 38 is exterior of the bonnet 42 with the tassel formation 40 appearing as a tassel on the bonnet.

The end of the strap 38 opposite the tassel formation 40 is secured as by stitching 48 to the upper ends of both of the legs 12. Thus, the legs 12 can be partially drawn into the cavity 22 by grasping and pulling on the strap 38 as illustrated in FIG. 5. This will result in the doll assuming the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2. On the other hand, the legs 12 may be grasped and pulled out of the cavity 22 to extend the doll to the maximum height so as to cause the same to assume the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1.

Returning again to FIGS. 3-5, each of the legs 12 is generally wedge shaped. That is, their upper ends 50 are narrower than their lower ends 52. According to a preferred embodiment, each leg is defined by an exterior cloth covering 54 filled with stuffing 56 sufficiently so that the same will have sufficient rigidity as to not collapse or substantially bend under the weight of the doll so as to enable the doll to stand upright.

To assist in stability, the bottoms of each of the legs 12 include an outwardly extending edge 58 to increase the surface area thereof and to provide a relatively flat bottom 60. The outwardly extending edges 58 are easily provided by means of so-called pinch sewing employing stitches 62.

As a result of the foregoing construction of the legs 12, it will be appreciated that the same are somewhat compressible at least in a direction transverse to their length. The purpose of this feature of the invention is to provide for the generation ofa retaining force for the legs 12 when they are moved inwardly into the cavity 22. Specifically, the compressibility coupled with the fact that the upper ends 50 are narrower than the lower ends 52 provides for a wedging action of the legs against the opening defined by the sleeve 28. Such wedging action will hold the legs in a particular position of adjustment along their path of movement into the cavity so long as the upper ends 50 of the legs 12 are partially within the opening defined by the sleeve 28.

To provide a retaining action for the legs 12 when the same are completely removed from the cavity 22 and spaced therefrom, as, for example, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a resilient or compressible element 62 is secured to the upper ends of the legs 50 to be movable therewith and extend upwardly therefrom. According to the preferred embodiment, the element 62 is formed of a resilient, but relatively firm, foam or the like and is sized to substantially fill the opening defined by the sleeve 28 so as to bear against the sides thereof. The resulting exertion of force will preclude relative movement of the element 62 within the opening so as to maintain the legs 12 in a desired position of adjustment. Moreover, due to the fact that typical foams have a semirigid character sufficient to support a small mass such as that of a doll made according to the invention, the legs 12 will be maintained in a substantially vertical attitude to preclude the doll from falling over even when the legs 12 are at the position spaced from the body defined by the shell 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. It should also be observed that the resilient character of the element 62-is such that the same may distort when the strap 38 is pulled to draw the legs 12 into the cavity 22. With reference to FIG. 5, it is apparent that the capability of such distortion permits movement of the legs 12 into the cavity 22 without substantial obstruction to such movement by reason of the ability of the element 62 to distort to substantially conform to the adjacent inner surface of the shell 20.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the flexible covering 14 will be described in greater detail. In particular, the flexible covering 14 may be formed of cloth and include a frustoconical cloth piece 64. The upper end 66 of the same is secured to the body defined by the shell 20 by receipt in the groove 30 along with the edge 32 of the aperture 26 of the shell. Because of the somewhat resilient character of the plastic used in forming the shell 20, the upper edge 66 will be tightly grasped in the position illustrated.

The lower end of the frustoconical cloth piece 64 is secured, as by stitching 68, to a circular piece of cloth 70 which is, of course, provided with a central opening 72 through which the upper ends 50 of the legs 12 may extend. The edges of the opening 72 are secured to the upper ends of the legs 50 as by the stitching 48. As a result, it will be appreciated that at least a portion of the flexible covering 14 is movable with the legs 12. Thus, when the legs 12 are fully drawn into the cavity 22 as illustrated in FIG. 5, the entirety of the circular cloth piece 70 and the lower edge of the frustoconical cloth piece 64 is drawn into the cavity 22 such that when the overall height of the doll is decreased, the overall length of the flexible covering 14 is simultaneously reduced.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the doll is in the form of a human, the same may also be provided with arms, generally designated 76. Plastic moldings 78 are employed to define hands while the remainder of the arms may be formed by a tubular cloth construction 80 secured to the upper end of the frustoconical cloth piece 64 as by stitching 82. Thus, the arms 76 are flexible intermediate their length.

By means of stitching 84, the arms 76, intermediate their length, are secured to the flexible covering 14 intermediate the length of the frustoconical cloth piece 64. As a result of this connection, it will be appreciated that as a flexible covering 14 is drawn into the cavity 22, a portion of each of the arms will be drawn upwardly as can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 5 to simultaneously shorten the length of the arms 76. Specifically, a portion 86 just below the stitching 84 is drawn upwardly to be tucked upwardly and under the frustoconical cloth piece 64 adjacent the legs 12.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a doll made according to the invention achieves the objects specified in terms of providing an inexpensive and uncomplicated construction and which eliminates the need for telescoping limbs or the like. While the doll has been illustrated as being in the form of a human, it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention are applicable to other forms of life as well.

I claim:

1. A toy growing doll, animal or the like, comprising:

at least two leg defining members of fixed length;

a body defining means having an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening;

the upper ends of said leg members being receivable within said opening for movement into said cavity;

an elongated element secured to said leg member upper ends-and extending through said cavity and said body defining-means to the extent of the body defining means remote from said opening adapted to be grasped and pulled to move said leg member upper ends into said cavity; and

flexible means secured to said body defining means and to said leg members for movement with said leg members at least partially into said cavity.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said leg members are (a) compressible transverse to their length, (b) narrower adjacent said upper ends than at their opposite ends, and (c) are configured to wedge in said opening as they are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members within said cavity.

3. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, resilient member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said resilient member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said leg members.

4. A growing doll embodying the toy of claim 1 wherein said flexible means is adapted to simulate an apparel and further including a pair of arm defining elements, each being flexible intermediate its ends and being disposed oppositely about said flexible means, each of said arm defining means being secured intermediate its length to said flexible means intermediate the length of the latter whereby as said leg members are moved into said cavity to effectively shorten the length of the doll and said flexible means partially move into said cavity with said leg members, said arm members will be simultaneously proportionately shortened.

5. A toy according to claim 1 wherein one of said opening and said leg members transverse to their length are resilient, and wherein said leg members are narrower adjacent their upper ends than at their opposite ends and are constructed and arranged in connection with said opening to wedge therein as they are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members within said cavity; and wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, compressible member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said semirigid, compressible member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said leg members when said leg member upper ends are in said position.

6. A toy according to claim 5 wherein said opening is defined by an elongated sleeve within said body defining means; and wherein said legs are compressible transversely to their length; and wherein said semirigid compressible member comprises an elongated foam member sized to engage at least a portion of the interior wall of said sleeve; and wherein said elongated element comprises a flexible strap; and wherein said body defining means is adapted to simulate a head.

7. A toy growing doll, animalor the like, comprising:

a body defining means having an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening; at least two leg defining members having upper ends receivable within said opening for movement into said cavity, said leg members being a. of fixed length,

b. compressible transverse to their length,

c. narrower adjacent said upper ends than at their opposite ends, and

d. configured to wedge in said opening as said leg upper ends are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members in said cavity; and

an elongated element secured to said leg member upper ends and extending through said cavity exteriorly of said body defining means at a location remote from said opening, said element being adapted to be grasped and pulled to move said leg member open ends into said cavity.

8. A toy according to claim 7 wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, resilient member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said resilient member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said 

1. A toy growing doll, animal or the like, comprising: at least two leg defining members of fixed length; a body defining means having an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening; the upper ends of said leg members being receivable within said opening for movement into said cavity; an elongated element secured to said leg member upper ends and extending through said cavity and said body defining means to the extent of the body defining means remote from said opening adapted to be grasped and pulled to move said leg member upper ends into said cavity; and flexible means secured to said body defining means and to said leg members for movement with said leg members at least partially into said cavity.
 2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said leg members are (a) compressible transverse to their length, (b) narrower adjacent said upper ends than at their opposite ends, and (c) are configured to wedge in said opening as they are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members within said cavity.
 3. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, resilient member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefroM, said resilient member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said leg members.
 4. A growing doll embodying the toy of claim 1 wherein said flexible means is adapted to simulate an apparel and further including a pair of arm defining elements, each being flexible intermediate its ends and being disposed oppositely about said flexible means, each of said arm defining means being secured intermediate its length to said flexible means intermediate the length of the latter whereby as said leg members are moved into said cavity to effectively shorten the length of the doll and said flexible means partially move into said cavity with said leg members, said arm members will be simultaneously proportionately shortened.
 5. A toy according to claim 1 wherein one of said opening and said leg members transverse to their length are resilient, and wherein said leg members are narrower adjacent their upper ends than at their opposite ends and are constructed and arranged in connection with said opening to wedge therein as they are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members within said cavity; and wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, compressible member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said semirigid, compressible member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said leg members when said leg member upper ends are in said position.
 6. A toy according to claim 5 wherein said opening is defined by an elongated sleeve within said body defining means; and wherein said legs are compressible transversely to their length; and wherein said semirigid compressible member comprises an elongated foam member sized to engage at least a portion of the interior wall of said sleeve; and wherein said elongated element comprises a flexible strap; and wherein said body defining means is adapted to simulate a head.
 7. A toy growing doll, animal or the like, comprising: a body defining means having an interior cavity and a downwardly facing opening; at least two leg defining members having upper ends receivable within said opening for movement into said cavity, said leg members being a. of fixed length, b. compressible transverse to their length, c. narrower adjacent said upper ends than at their opposite ends, and d. configured to wedge in said opening as said leg upper ends are moved into said cavity to create a retaining force for said leg members in said cavity; and an elongated element secured to said leg member upper ends and extending through said cavity exteriorly of said body defining means at a location remote from said opening, said element being adapted to be grasped and pulled to move said leg member open ends into said cavity.
 8. A toy according to claim 7 wherein said elongated element has a length sufficient to allow said leg member upper ends to be moved entirely from said cavity to a position spaced from said opening, and further including a semirigid, resilient member affixed to said leg member upper ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said resilient member generally filling said opening and having a length sufficient to have at least a portion thereof disposed in said opening when said leg member upper ends are in said position to bear against the sides of said opening to maintain said legs substantially vertical when said leg member upper ends are in said position and to provide a retaining force for said leg members. 